Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T03:22:44.685Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

8 - Bolstering the Bond: Policies and Programs That Support Prenatal Bonding and the Transition to Parenting

from Part II - Parenting across Development: Social, Emotional, and Cognitive Influences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2022

By
Lara R. Robinson ,
Helena J. Hutchins ,
Rachel Hulkower ,
Kimberly Newsome ,
Angelika Hartl Claussen ,
Rebecca H. Bitsko ,
Russell McCord  and
Jennifer W. Kaminski
Edited by
Amanda Sheffield Morris  and
Julia Mendez Smith
Amanda Sheffield Morris
Affiliation:
Oklahoma State University
Julia Mendez Smith
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Get access

Summary

Infants are born predisposed to develop strong relationships to those most likely to protect them; this emotional connection from the child to the protective adult is described as attachment (Ainsworth, 1979; Bowlby, 1983; Crittenden, 2006; Spierling et al., 2019). In turn, parents’ behavioral and physiological responses prime them to respond to attachment behaviors, such as crying, with protective behaviors (Ainsworth, 1979; Bowlby, 1983; Cong et al., 2015). This emotional connection from the attachment figure to the child is described as bonding (Scatliffe et al., 2019). Parental bonding is more often studied in biological mothers, but similar processes of bonding can occur in fathers and other caregivers who act in the role of parents (Bowlby, 1983; Cong et al., 2015; Dayton, Malone, & Brown, 2020). Relationships are a dyadic experience, influenced by both the parent and the child, dynamically changing over time, and shaped by the family context (Ainsworth, 1979; Crittenden, 2006; Wilson et al., 2000). Bonding and attachment are distinct concepts, even though the labels are sometimes used interchangeably (Habib & Lancaster, 2006; McNamara, Townsend, & Herbert, 2019).

Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Parenting , pp. 165 - 190
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2011). New Mother’s Guide to Breastfeeding, 2nd Edition (Meek, J. Y. & Yu, W. Eds.). Random House.Google Scholar
American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding. (2012). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 129, e827–e841. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-3552Google Scholar
Aarestrup, A. K., Skovgaard Væver, M., Petersen, J., Røhder, K., & Schiøtz, M. (2020). An early intervention to promote maternal sensitivity in the perinatal period for women with psychosocial vulnerabilities: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychology, 8, 41–41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-020-00407-3Google Scholar
Abraham, E., Hendler, T., Zagoory-Sharon, O., & Feldman, R. (2016). Network integrity of the parental brain in infancy supports the development of children’s social competencies. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 11, 1707–1718. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsw090Google Scholar
Ahammer, A., Halla, M., & Schneeweis, N. (2020). The effect of prenatal maternity leave on short and long-term child outcomes. Journal of health Economics, 70, 102250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2019.102250Google Scholar
Ainsworth, M. D. S. (1979). Attachment as related to mother-infant interaction. In Rosenblatt, J. S., Hinde, R. A., Beer, C., & Busnel, M.-C. (Eds.), Advances in the Study of Behavior (Vol. 9, pp. 1–51): Academic Press.Google Scholar
Alhusen, J. L. (2008). A literature update on maternal–fetal attachment. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 37, 315–328. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2008.00241.xGoogle Scholar
Alhusen, J. L., Gross, D., Hayat, M. J., Rose, L., & Sharps, P. (2012). The role of mental health on maternal–fetal attachment in low‐income women. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 41, e71–e81. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2012.01385.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alyousefi-van Dijk, K., Thijssen, S., van’t Veer, A. E. et al. (2020). Exploring the transition into fatherhood: Behavioral, hormonal, and neural underpinnings of responses to infant crying. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/5bxk9Google Scholar
Association of Women’s Health, & Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. (2018). Continuous labor support for every woman. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 47, 73-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2017.11.010Google Scholar
Bai, L., Whitesell, C. J., & Teti, D. M. (2020). Maternal sleep patterns and parenting quality during infants’ first 6 months. Journal of Family Psychology, 34, 291–300. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000608Google Scholar
Baker, M., & Milligan, K. (2010). Evidence from maternity leave expansions of the impact of maternal care on early child development. Journal of Human Resources, 45, 1–32.Google Scholar
Barry, C., Robinson, L. R., Kaminski, J. W., Jones, C., & Lang, D. (2022). Behavioral and socioemotional outcomes of the Legacy for Children™ randomized control trial to promote healthy development of children living in poverty, four to six years post-intervention. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics , 1, e39–e47. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000000962Google Scholar
Beasley, L. O., King, C., Esparza, I. et al. (2020). Understanding initial and sustained engagement of Spanish-speaking Latina mothers in the Legacy for Children Program™: A qualitative examination of a group-based parenting program Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 54, 99–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2020.08.003Google Scholar
Beasley, L. O., Silovsky, J., Stephens-Totimeh, L. et al. Qualitative perspective on cultural congruency of Legacy®: community-based parenting program for Latina mothers [Manuscript under development].Google Scholar
Beebe, B., Myers, M. M., Lee, S. H. et al. (2018). Family nurture intervention for preterm infants facilitates positive mother-infant face-to-face engagement at 4 months. Developmental Psychology, 54(11), 2016–2031. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000557Google Scholar
Bennett, C., Underdown, A., & Barlow, J. (2013). Massage for promoting mental and physical health in typically developing infants under the age of six months. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005038.pub3Google Scholar
Berger, L. M., Hill, J., & Waldfogel, J. (2005). Maternity leave, early maternal employment and child health and development in the US. The Economic Journal, 115, F29–F47.Google Scholar
Bergman, N. J., Linley, L. L., & Fawcus, S. R. (2004). Randomized controlled trial of skin-to-skin contact from birth versus conventional incubator for physiological stabilization in 1200- to 2199-gram newborns. Acta Paediatrica, 93, 779–785. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2004.tb03018.xGoogle Scholar
Bigelow, A. E., Power, M., MacLean, K. et al. (2018). Mother-infant skin-to-skin contact and mother-child interaction 9 years later. Social Development. Vol.27(4), 2018, pp. 937-951.Google Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss. Volume II: Separation, anxiety and anger. Basic Books.Google Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1983). Attachment and loss. Volume I: Attachment. Basic Books.Google Scholar
Brundage, S. C., & Shearer, C. (2019). Plan and provider opportunities to move toward integrated family health care. United Hospital Fund.Google Scholar
Buhimschi, C. S. (2004). Endocrinology of lactation. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America 31, 963–979, xii. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogc.2004.08.002Google Scholar
Butler, H., Hare, D., Walker, S., Wieck, A., & Wittkowski, A. (2014). The acceptability and feasibility of the Baby Triple P Positive Parenting Programme on a mother and baby unit: Q-methodology with mothers with severe mental illness. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 17, 455–463.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Campbell, D., Scott, K. D., Klaus, M. H., & Falk, M. (2007). Female relatives or friends trained as labor doulas: Outcomes at 6 to 8 weeks postpartum. Birth, 34, 220–227. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-536X.2007.00174.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Campbell-Yeo, M. L., Disher, T. C., Benoit, B. L., & Johnston, C. C. (2015). Understanding kangaroo care and its benefits to preterm infants. Pediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics 6, 15–32. https://doi.org/10.2147/phmt.S51869Google Scholar
Cassidy, J., Ziv, Y., Stupica, B. et al. (2010). Enhancing attachment security in the infants of women in a jail-diversion program. Attachment & Human Development, 12(4), 333-353.Google Scholar
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). CDC’s Work to Support and Promote Breastfeeding. www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/about-breastfeeding/what-is-cdc-doing.htmlGoogle Scholar
ChangeLab Solutions. (2018). Laws That Support Breastfeeding Among Hospital Maternity Patients (A LawAtlas Project). from Temple University Beasley School of Law http://lawatlas.org/datasets/baby-friendly-hospital-1525279705Google Scholar
Cheng, C. D., Volk, A. A., & Marini, Z. A. (2011). Supporting fathering through infant massage. The Journal of Perinatal Education, 20, 200–209. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.20.4.200Google Scholar
Chiang, K. V., Li, R., Anstey, E. H., & Perrine, C. G. (2021). Racial and ethnic disparities in breastfeeding initiation ─ United States, 2019. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report(70), 769–774. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7021a1Google Scholar
Clark, R., Hyde, J. S., Essex, M. J., & Klein, M. H. (1997). Length of maternity leave and quality of mother–infant interactions. Child Development, 68, 364–383. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1997.tb01945.xGoogle Scholar
Cleveland, L., Hill, C. M., Pulse, W. S., DiCioccio, H. C., Field, T., & White-Traut, R. (2017). Systematic review of skin-to-skin care for full-term, healthy newborns. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 46, 857–869. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2017.08.005Google Scholar
Condon, J. T. (1993). The assessment of antenatal emotional attachment: Development of a questionnaire instrument. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 66, 167–183. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8341.1993.tb01739.xGoogle Scholar
Cong, X., Ludington-Hoe, S. M., Hussain, N. et al. (2015). Parental oxytocin responses during skin-to-skin contact in pre-term infants. Early Human Development, 91, 401–406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2015.04.012Google Scholar
Cooper, G., Hoffman, K. T., & Powell, B. (2003). The Circle of Security Perinatal Protocol. Marycliff Institute.Google Scholar
Coyl, D. D., Roggman, L. A., & Newland, L. A. (2002). Stress, maternal depression, and negative mother–infant interactions in relation to infant attachment. Infant Mental Health Journal, 23, 145–163. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.10009Google Scholar
Crittenden, P. M. (2006). A dynamic-maturational model of attachment. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 27, 105–115. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1467-8438.2006.tb00704.xGoogle Scholar
Cuijlits, I., van de Wetering, A. P., Endendijk, J. J., van Baar, A. L., Potharst, E. S., & Pop, V. J. M. (2019). Risk and protective factors for pre- and postnatal bonding. Infant Mental Health Journal, 40, 768–785. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21811Google Scholar
Cullen, C., Field, T., Escalona, A., & Hartshorn, K. (2000). Father–infant interactions are enhanced by massage therapy. Early Child Development and Care, 164, 41–47. https://doi.org/10.1080/0300443001640104CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dagher, R. K., McGovern, P. M., & Dowd, B. E. (2014). Maternity leave duration and postpartum mental and physical health: Implications for leave policies. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 39, 369–416. https://doi.org/10.1215/03616878-2416247Google Scholar
Dayton, C. J., Malone, J. C., & Brown, S. (2020). Pathways to parenting: The emotional journeys of fathers as they prepare to parent a new infant. In Fitzgerald, H. E., von Klitzing, K., Cabrera, N. J., Scarano de Mendonça, J., & Skjøthaug, T. (Eds.), Handbook of Fathers and Child Development: Prenatal to Preschool (pp. 173–194). Cham: Springer International Publishing.Google Scholar
Demirci, J., Caplan, E., Murray, N., & Cohen, S. (2018). “I just want to do everything right:” Primiparous women’s accounts of early breastfeeding via an app-based diary. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 32, 163–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2017.09.010Google Scholar
Diez-Sampedro, A., Flowers, M., Olenick, M., Maltseva, T., & Valdes, G. (2019). Women’s choice regarding breastfeeding and its effect on well-being. Nursing for Women’s Health, 23, 383–389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nwh.2019.08.002Google Scholar
Dudek, J., Colasante, T., Zuffiano, A., & Haley, D. W. (2020). Changes in cortical sensitivity to infant facial cues from pregnancy to motherhood predict mother–infant bonding. Child Development, 91, e198–e217. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13182Google Scholar
Duggan, A., McFarlane, E., Fuddy, L. et al. (2004). Randomized trial of a statewide home visiting program: Impact in preventing child abuse and neglect. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28, 597–622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2003.08.007Google Scholar
Endendijk, J. J., Bos, P. A., Smit, A. K., & van Baar, A. L. (2020). Pictures of preterm infants elicit increased affective responses and reduced reward-motivation or perspective taking in the maternal brain. Behavioural Brain Research, 390.Google Scholar
Erickson, N., Julian, M., & Muzik, M. (2019). Perinatal depression, PTSD, and trauma: Impact on mother–infant attachment and interventions to mitigate the transmission of risk. International Review of Psychiatry, 31, 245–263.Google Scholar
Escarne, J. G., Atrash, H. K., de la Cruz, D. S., Baker, B., & Reyes, M. (2017). Introduction to the special issue on Healthy Start. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 21, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-017-2404-yGoogle Scholar
Evans, T., Boyd, R. N., Colditz, P., Sanders, M., & Whittingham, K. (2017). Mother-very preterm infant relationship quality: RCT of Baby Triple P. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26, 284–295.Google Scholar
Evans, W. N., & Garthwaite, C. (2014). Giving mom a break: The impact of higher EITC payments on maternal health. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 6, 258–290.Google Scholar
Feldman, R. (2017). The neurobiology of human attachments. Trends in Cognitive Science, 21, 80–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2016.11.007Google Scholar
Feldman, R., Sussman, A. L., & Zigler, E. (2004). Parental leave and work adaptation at the transition to parenthood: Individual, marital, and social correlates. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 25, 459–479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2004.06.004Google Scholar
Feldman, R., Weller, A., Leckman, J. F., Kuint, J., & Eidelman, A. I. (1999). The nature of the mother’s tie to her infant: Maternal bonding under conditions of proximity, separation, and potential loss. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40, 929–939.Google Scholar
Feldman, R., Weller, A., Zagoory-Sharon, O., & Levine, A. (2007). Evidence for a neuroendocrinological foundation of human affiliation: Plasma oxytocin levels across pregnancy and the postpartum period predict mother–infant bonding. Psychological Science, 18, 965–970.Google Scholar
Fonagy, P., Steele, H., & Steele, M. (1991). Maternal representations of attachment during pregnancy predict the organization of infant-mother attachment at one year of age. Child Development, 62, 891–905. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1991.tb01578.xGoogle Scholar
Gathwala, G., Singh, B., & Balhara, B. (2008). KMC facilitates mother baby attachment in low birth weight infants. Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 75, 43–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-008-0005-xGoogle Scholar
Glink, P., & Atlfeld, S. (1999). Engaging, educating, and empowering young mothers: The Chicago Doula Project. Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families, 41–44.Google Scholar
Goldberg, S. K., & Conron, K. J. (2018). How Many Same-Sex Couples in the U.S. are Raising Children? https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Same-Sex-Parents-Jul-2018.pdfGoogle Scholar
Groer, M. W., Davis, M. W., & Hemphill, J. (2002). Postpartum stress: Current concepts and the possible protective role of breastfeeding. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 31, 411–417. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2002.tb00063.xGoogle Scholar
Habib, C., & Lancaster, S. (2006). The transition to fatherhood: Identity and bonding in early pregnancy. Fathering 4, 235–253.Google Scholar
Hamad, R., Modrek, S., & White, J. S. (2019). Paid family leave effects on breastfeeding: A quasi-experimental study of US policies. American Journal of Public Health, 109, 164–166. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2018.304693Google Scholar
Hamad, R., & Rehkopf, D. H. (2015). Poverty, pregnancy, and birth outcomes: A study of the Earned Income Tax Credit. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 29, 444–452. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppe.12211Google Scholar
Hane, A. A., Myers, M. M., Hofer, M. A., Ludwig, R. J., Halperin, M. S., Austin, J., … Welch, M. G. (2015). Family nurture intervention improves the quality of maternal caregiving in the neonatal intensive care unit: evidence from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 36, 188–196. https://doi.org/10.1097/dbp.0000000000000148Google Scholar
Hans, S. L., Edwards, R. C., & Zhang, Y. (2018). Randomized controlled trial of doula-home-visiting services: Impact on maternal and infant health. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 22, 105–113. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2537-7Google Scholar
Hans, S. L., Thullen, M., Henson, L. G., Lee, H., Edwards, R. C., & Bernstein, V. J. (2013). Promoting positive mother-infant relationships: A randomized trail of community doula support for young mothers. Infant Mental Health Journal, 34, 446–457. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21400Google Scholar
Hartwig, S. A., Robinson, L. R., Comeau, D., Claussen, A. H., & Perou, R. (2017). Maternal perceptions of parenting following an evidence-based parenting program: A qualitative study of Legacy for Children™ Infant Mental Health Journal, 38, 499–513. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21657Google Scholar
Hawkins, S. S., Stern, A. D., Baum, C. F., & Gillman, M. W. (2015). Evaluating the impact of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on breast-feeding rates: A multi-state analysis. Public Health Nutrition, 18, 189–197. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980014000238Google Scholar
Hawkins, S. S., Stern, A. D., & Gillman, M. W. (2013). Do state breastfeeding laws in the USA promote breast feeding? Journal of Epidemiololgy and Community Health 67, 250–256.Google Scholar
Hays-Grudo, J., & Morris, A. S. (2020). The intergenerational transmission of ACEs and PACEs. In Adverse and protective childhood experiences: A developmental perspective. (pp. 69–84). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.Google Scholar
Heim, C., Young, L. J., Newport, D. J., Mletzko, T., Miller, A. H., & Nemeroff, C. B. (2009). Lower CSF oxytocin concentrations in women with a history of childhood abuse. Molecular Psychiatry 14, 954–958.Google Scholar
Hermann, A., Fitelson, E. M., & Bergink, V. (2021). Meeting maternal mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Psychiatry, 78, 123–124. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.1947Google Scholar
Hoynes, H., Miller, D., & Simon, D. (2015). Income, the earned income tax credit, and infant health. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 7, 172–211.Google Scholar
Huerta, M. D. C., Adema, W., Baxter, J. et al. (2013). Fathers’ leave, fathers’ involvement and child development: Are they related? Evidence from four OECD countries. www.oecd-ilibrary.org/content/paper/5k4dlw9w6czq-enGoogle Scholar
Ickovics, J. R., Lewis, J. B., Cunningham, S. D., Thomas, J., & Magriples, U. (2019). Transforming prenatal care: Multidisciplinary team science improves a broad range of maternal–child outcomes. American Psychologist, 74, 343–355.Google Scholar
Iyengar, U., Kim, S., Martinez, S., Fonagy, P., & Strathearn, L. (2014). Unresolved trauma in mothers: Intergenerational effects and the role of reorganization. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 966. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00966Google Scholar
Jones, K. A., Do, S., Porras-Javier, L., Contreras, S., Chung, P. J., & Coker, T. R. (2018). Feasibility and acceptability in a community-partnered implementation of CenteringParenting for group well-child care. Academic Pediatrics, 18, 642–649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2018.06.001Google Scholar
Jones, K. M., Power, M. L., Queenan, J. T., & Schulkin, J. (2015). Racial and ethnic disparities in breastfeeding. Breastfeeding Medicine, 10(4), 186–196. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2014.0152Google Scholar
Jordan, B., Franich-Ray, C., Albert, N. et al. (2014). Early mother–infant relationships after cardiac surgery in infancy. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 99, 641–645. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2012-303488Google Scholar
Jou, J., Kozhimannil, K. B., Abraham, J. M., Blewett, L. A., & McGovern, P. M. (2018). Paid maternity leave in the United States: Associations with maternal and infant health. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 22, 216–225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-017-2393-xGoogle Scholar
Kaminski, J. W., Perou, R., Visser, S. N. et al. (2013). Behavioral and socioemotional outcomes through age 5 years of the Legacy for Children public health approach to improving developmental outcomes among children born into poverty. American Journal of Public Health, 103(6), 1058-1066. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2012.300996Google Scholar
Keverne, E. B. (2006). Neurobiological and molecular approaches to attachment and bonding. In Carter, C. S., Ahnert, L., Grossmann, K. E. et al. (Eds.), Attachment and Bonding: A New Synthesis (pp. 101–119). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.Google Scholar
Kim, P., Leckman, J. F., Mayes, L. C., Feldman, R., Wang, X., & Swain, J. E. (2010a). The plasticity of human maternal brain: Longitudinal changes in brain anatomy during the early postpartum period. Behavioral Neuroscience, 124, 695–700. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0020884Google Scholar
Kim, P., Leckman, J. F., Mayes, L. C., Newman, M.-A., Feldman, R., & Swain, J. E. (2010b). Perceived quality of maternal care in childhood and structure and function of mothers’ brain. Developmental Science, 13, 662–673. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7687.2009.00923.xGoogle Scholar
Kim, P., Strathearn, L., & Swain, J. E. (2016). The maternal brain and its plasticity in humans. Hormones and Behavior, 77, 113–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.08.001Google Scholar
Kim, S. K., Park, S., Oh, J., Kim, J., & Ahn, S. (2018). Interventions promoting exclusive breastfeeding up to six months after birth: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 80, 94–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.01.004Google Scholar
Kitamura, K. N. T. (2019). Do Postnatal Care and Breastfeeding Prevent Mother-to-Infant Bonding Disorder? In Ohashi, T. K. Y. (Ed.), Perinatal Bonding Disorders: Causes and Consequences (pp. 270–295). Newcastle-upon- Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.Google Scholar
Korja, R., Latva, R., & Lehtonen, L. (2012). The effects of preterm birth on mother–infant interaction and attachment during the infant’s first two years. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 91, 164–173. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0412.2011.01304.xGoogle Scholar
Kotzky, K., Robinson, L. R., Stanhope, K. K. et al. (2020). A qualitative evaluation of parenting to support early development among Spanish-speaking Legacy for Children™ participants. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 29, 2637–2652. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01749-7Google Scholar
Lawn, J. E., Mwansa-Kambafwile, J., Horta, B. L., Barros, F. C., & Cousens, S. (2010). “Kangaroo mother care” to prevent neonatal deaths due to preterm birth complications. International Journal of Epidemiology 39, i144–il154. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyq031Google Scholar
Levine, A., Zagoory-Sharon, O., Feldman, R., & Weller, A. (2007). Oxytocin during pregnancy and early postpartum: Individual patterns and maternal-fetal attachment. Peptides, 28, 1162–1169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2007.04.016Google Scholar
Livingston, G., & Thomas, D. (2019). Among 41 countries, only U.S. lacks paid parental leave. www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/12/16/u-s-lacks-mandated-paid-parental-leave/Google Scholar
Magill-Evans, J., Harrison, M. J., Rempel, G., & Slater, L. (2006). Interventions with fathers of young children: Systematic literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 55, 248–264. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03896.xGoogle Scholar
Mahesh, P. K. B., Gunathunga, M. W., Arnold, S. M. et al. (2018). Effectiveness of targeting fathers for breastfeeding promotion: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health, 18, 1140. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6037-xGoogle Scholar
Malawa, Z., Gaarde, J., & Spellen, S. (2021). Racism as a root cause approach: A new framework. Pediatrics, 147(1). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-015602Google Scholar
Mandal, B. (2018). The effect of paid leave on maternal mental health. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 22, 1470–1476. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2542-xGoogle Scholar
Mascheroni, E., & Ionio, C. (2019). The efficacy of interventions aimed at improving post-partum bonding: A review of interventions addressing parent-infant bonding in healthy and at risk populations. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 25, 61–68.Google Scholar
McLeish, J., & Redshaw, M. (2019). “Being the best person that they can be and the best mum”: A qualitative study of community volunteer doula support for disadvantaged mothers before and after birth in England. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 19, 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-2170-xGoogle Scholar
McNamara, J., Townsend, M. L., & Herbert, J. S. (2019). A systemic review of maternal wellbeing and its relationship with maternal fetal attachment and early postpartum bonding. PLOS ONE, 14, e0220032. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220032Google Scholar
Mihelic, M., Morawska, A., & Filus, A. (2018). Does a perinatal parenting intervention work for fathers? A randomized controlled trial. Infant Mental Health Journal, 39, 687–698.Google Scholar
Morris, A. S., Robinson, L. R., Hays‐Grudo, J., Claussen, A. H., Hartwig, S. A., & Treat, A. E. (2017). Targeting parenting in early childhood: A public health approach to improve outcomes for children living in poverty. Child Development, 88, 388–397. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12743Google Scholar
Munn, A. C., Newman, S. D., Mueller, M., Phillips, S. M., & Taylor, S. N. (2016). The impact in the United States of the baby-friendly Hospital initiative on early infant health and breastfeeding outcomes. Breastfeeding Medicine, 11, 222–230. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2015.0135Google Scholar
Myers, M. M., Grieve, P. G., Stark, R. I. et al. (2015). Family Nurture Intervention in preterm infants alters frontal cortical functional connectivity assessed by EEG coherence. Acta Paediatrica, 104, 670–677. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.13007Google Scholar
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). Parenting matters: Supporting parents of children ages 0-8. National Academies Press.Google Scholar
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2019). Vibrant and Healthy Kids: Aligning Science, Practice, and Policy to Advance Health Equity. National Academies Press.Google Scholar
Nath, S., Pearson, R. M., Moran, P. et al. (2019). The association between prenatal maternal anxiety disorders and postpartum perceived and observed mother-infant relationship quality. Journal of Affective Disorder, 68, 102–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2019.102148Google Scholar
Obure, R., Salihu, H. M., Aggarwal, A. et al.(2020). Evaluation of an evidence-based and community-responsive fatherhood training program: Providers’ perspective. International Journal of MCH and AIDS, 9, 64–72. https://doi.org/10.21106/ijma.297Google Scholar
Ohgi, S., Fukuda, M., Moriuchi, H. et al. (2002). Comparison of kangaroo care and standard care: Behavioral organization, development, and temperament in healthy, low-birth-weight infants through 1 year. Journal of Perinatology, 22, 374–379. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210749Google Scholar
Pados, B. F., & McGlothen-Bell, K. (2019). Benefits of infant massage for infants and parents in the NICU. Nursing for Women’s Health, 23, 265–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nwh.2019.03.004Google Scholar
Pawluski, J. L., Lonstein, J. S., & Fleming, A. S. (2017). The neurobiology of postpartum anxiety and depression. Trends in Neuroscience and Education, 40, 106–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2016.11.009Google Scholar
Pearson, R. M., Lightman, S. L., & Evans, J. (2011). Attentional processing of infant emotion during late pregnancy and mother–infant relations after birth. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 14, 23–31.Google Scholar
Perou, R., Elliott, M. N., Visser, S. N. et al. (2012). Legacy for Children™: A pair of randomized controlled trials of a public health model to improve developmental outcomes among children in poverty. BMC Public Health, 12, 691. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-691Google Scholar
Perou, R., Robinson, L. R., Danielson, M. L. et al. (2019). The Legacy for Children™ randomized control trial: Effects on cognition through third grade for young children experiencing poverty. Journal of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, 40, 275–284.Google Scholar
Philbrook, L. E., Hozella, A. C., Kim, B. R., Jian, N., Shimizu, M., & Teti, D. M. (2014). Maternal emotional availability at bedtime and infant cortisol at 1 and 3 months. Early Human Development, 90, 595–605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2014.05.014Google Scholar
Philipp, B. L., Merewood, A., Miller, L. W. et al. (2001). Baby-friendly hospital initiative improves breastfeeding initiation rates in a US hospital setting. Pediatrics, 108, 677–681. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.108.3.677Google Scholar
Pihl, A. M., & Basso, G. (2019). Did California paid family leave impact infant health. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 38, 155–180. https://doi.org/10.1002/pam.22101Google Scholar
Porges, S. W., Davila, M. I., Lewis, G. F. et al. (2019). Autonomic regulation of preterm infants is enhanced by Family Nurture Intervention. Developmental Psychobiology, 61, 942–952. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.21841Google Scholar
Powell, B., Cooper, G., Hoffman, K., & Marvin, B. (2014). The circle of security intervention: Enhancing attachment in early parent-child relationships. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Rapoport, E., Muthiah, N., Keim, S. A., & Adesman, A. (2020). Family well-being in grandparent- versus parent-headed households. Pediatrics 146, e20200115. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-0115CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ritchie-Ewing, G., Mitchell, A. M., & Christian, L. M. (2019). Associations of maternal beliefs and distress in pregnancy and postpartum with breastfeeding initiation and early cessation. Journal of Human Lactation, 35, 49–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334418767832CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Robinson, K., Garnier-Villarreal, M., & Hanson, L. (2018). Effectiveness of centering pregnancy on breastfeeding initiation among African Americans: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 32, 116–126. https://doi.org/10.1097/jpn.0000000000000307Google Scholar
Robinson, L. R., Hartwig, S. A., Smith, D. C. et al. (2019). Supporting early social and emotional relationships through a public health parenting program: The Legacy for Children™ intervention. In Morris, A. S. & Williamson, A. C. (Eds.), Building early social and emotional relationships with infants and toddlers (pp. 183–211). Springer.Google Scholar
Rollè, L., Giordano, M., Santoniccolo, F., & Trombetta, T. (2020). Prenatal attachment and perinatal depression: A systematic review International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, 2644. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082644Google Scholar
Ruiz-Peláez, J. G., Charpak, N., & Cuervo, L. G. (2004). Kangaroo Mother Care, an example to follow from developing countries. BMJ, 329, 1179–1181. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7475.1179Google Scholar
Russell, J. A., Douglas, A. J., & Ingram, C. D. (2001). Brain preparations for maternity – adaptive changes in behavioral and neuroendocrine systems during pregnancy and lactation. An overview. Progress in Brain Research, 133, 1–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0079-6123(01)33002-9Google Scholar
Salihu, H. M., Mbah, A. K., Jeffers, D., Aliho, A. P., & Berry, L. (2009). Healthy Start program and feto-infant morbidity outcomes: Evaluation of program effectiveness. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 13, 56–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-008-0400-yGoogle Scholar
Sanders, M. R. (1999). Triple P-Positive Parenting Program: Towards an empirically validated multilevel parenting and family support strategy for the prevention of behavior and emotional problems in children. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 2, 71–90.Google Scholar
Scatliffe, N., Casavant, S., Vittner, D., & Cong, X. (2019). Oxytocin and early parent-infant interactions: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Science, 6, 445–453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2019.09.009Google Scholar
Scism, A. R., & Cobb, R. L. (2017). Integrative review of factors and interventions that influence early father–infant bonding. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 46, 163–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2016.09.004Google Scholar
Shah, P. E., Muzik, M., & Rosenblum, K. L. (2011). Optimizing the early parent–child relationship: Windows of opportunity for parents and pediatricians. Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, 41, 183–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cppeds.2011.02.002Google Scholar
Shoghi, M., Sohrabi, S., & Rasouli, M. (2018). The effects of massage by mothers on mother-infant attachment. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 24, 34–39.Google Scholar
Siddiqui, A., Hagglof, B., & Eisemann, M. (2000). Own memories of upbringing as a determinant of prenatal attachment in expectant women. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 18, 67–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646830050001690Google Scholar
Slade, A., Holland, M., Ordway, M. et al. (2020). Minding the Baby®: Enhancing parental reflective functioning and infant attachment in an attachment-based, interdisciplinary home visiting program. Development and Psychopathology, 32, 123–137. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579418001463Google Scholar
So, M., Almeida Rojo, A. L., Robinson, L. R. et al. (2020). Parent engagement in an original and culturally adapted evidence-based parenting program, Legacy for Children™. Infant Mental Health Journal, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21853Google Scholar
Sosa, R., Kennell, J., Klaus, M., Robertson, S., & Urrutia, J. (1980). The effect of a supportive companion on perinatal problems, length of labor, and mother–infant interaction. New England Journal of Medicine, 303, 597–600. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM198009113031101Google Scholar
Spicer, P. (2011). Culture and infant mental health. Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, 41, 188–191.Google Scholar
Spierling, T. N., Ciciolla, L., Tiemeyer, S., & Shreffler, K. M. (2019). Laying the groundwork for social and emotional development: Prenatal attachment, childbirth experiences, and neonatal attachment. In Morris, A. C. W. & Morris, A. S. (Ed.), Building Early Social and Emotional Relationships with Infants and Toddlers (pp. 27–58). Springer Nature.Google Scholar
Stephenson, L. A., Beck, K., Busuulwa, P. et al. Perinatal interventions for mothers and fathers who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect, 80, 9–31.Google Scholar
Stern, J. M. (1997). Offspring-induced nurturance: Animal-human parallels. Developmental Psychobiology, 31, 19–37. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1098-2302(199707)31:1<19::aid-dev3>3.0.co;2-xGoogle Scholar
Strathearn, L., Fonagy, P., Amico, J., & Montague, P. R. (2009). Adult attachment predicts maternal brain and oxytocin response to infant cues. Neuropsychopharmacology, 34, 2655–2666.Google Scholar
Swain, J. E., Kim, P., Spicer, J. et al. (2014). Approaching the biology of human parental attachment: Brain imaging, oxytocin and coordinated assessments of mothers and fathers. Brain Research, 1580, 78–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2014.03.007Google Scholar
Teti, D. M., Cole, P. M., Cabrera, N., Goodman, S. H., & McLoyd, V. C. (2017). Supporting parents: How six decades of parenting research can inform policy and best practice. Social Policy Report, 30, 1–34.Google Scholar
Tharner, A., Luijk, M. P., Raat, H. et al. (2012). Breastfeeding and its relation to maternal sensitivity and infant attachment. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 33, 396–404. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0b013e318257fac3Google Scholar
Thomas, J. C., Letourneau, N., Bryce, C. I., Campbell, T. S., Giesbrecht, G. F., & Team, A. P. S. (2017). Biological embedding of perinatal social relationships in infant stress reactivity. Developmental Psychobiology, 59, 425–435. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.21505Google Scholar
Thul, T. A., Corwin, E. J., Carlson, N. S., Brennan, P. A., & Young, L. J. (2020). Oxytocin and postpartum depression: A systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 120, 104793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104793Google Scholar
U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2019). Employee benefits survey: Private industry leave benefits access. www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/benefits/2019/ownership/private/table31a.pdfGoogle Scholar
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2011). The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK52682/)Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Improve Maternal Health. www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/call-to-action-maternal-health.pdfGoogle Scholar
Van Niel, M. S., Bhatia, R., Riano, N. S. et al. (2020). The impact of paid maternity leave on the mental and physical health of mothers and children: A review of the literature and policy implications. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 28, 113–126. https://doi/10.1097/HRP.0000000000000246Google Scholar
Vasquez, M. J., & Berg, O. R. (2012). The Baby-Friendly journey in a US public hospital. Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing, 26, 37–46. https://doi.org/10.1097/JPN.0b013e3182107179CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Veldhuis, C. B., Stuart, E., & Fallin, M. D. (2021). Five urgent public health policies to combat the mental health effects Of COVID-19, Health Affairs Blog, January 27, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1377/hblog20210122.959001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vittner, D., McGrath, J., Robinson, J. et al. (2018). Increase in oxytocin from skin-to-skin contact enhances development of parent–infant relationship. Biological Research For Nursing, 20, 54–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/1099800417735633Google Scholar
Watkins, S., Meltzer-Brody, S., Zolnoun, D., & Stuebe, A. (2011). Early breastfeeding experiences and postpartum depression. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 118, 214–221. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e3182260a2dGoogle Scholar
Weaver, J. M., Schofield, T. J., & Papp, L. M. (2018). Breastfeeding duration predicts greater maternal sensitivity over the next decade. Developmental Psychology, 54, 220–227. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000425Google Scholar
Welch, M. G., Hofer, M. A., Stark, R. I. et al. (2013). Randomized controlled trial of Family Nurture Intervention in the NICU: Assessments of length of stay, feasibility and safety. BMC Pediatrics, 13, 148. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-13-148Google Scholar
World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (2018). Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding in facilities providing maternity and newborn services: The revised Baby-Friendly Hospital Initative. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/272943/9789241513807-eng.pdf?ua=1Google Scholar
Wilson, M. E., White, M. A., Cobb, B., Curry, R., Greene, D., & Popovich, D. (2000). Family dynamics, parental-fetal attachment and infant temperament. Journal of Applied Nursing, 31, 204–210. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2000.01245.xGoogle Scholar
Wolicki, S. B., Bitsko, R. H., Cree, R. A. et al. (2021). Mental Health of Parents and Primary Caregivers by Sex and Associated Child Health Indicators. Adversity and Resilience Science, 2, 1–15.Google Scholar
World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s fund. (2003). Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. Geneva. www.who.int/publications/i/item/9241562218Google Scholar
Yoshikawa, H., Wuermli, A. J., Britto, P. R. et al. (2020). Effects of the global coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic on early childhood development: Short- and long-term risks and mitigating program and policy actions. The Journal of Pediatrics, 223, 188–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.05.020Google Scholar
Zanardo, V., Manghina, V., Giliberti, L., Vettore, M., Severino, L., & Straface, G. (2020). Psychological impact of COVID-19 quarantine measures in northeastern Italy on mothers in the immediate postpartum period. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 150, 184–188. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.13249Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×